Jones, Rebecca, 1739-1817

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Rebecca Jones was a Quaker minister from Philadelphia. She was born in Philadelphia, 7mo. 8 (old style), 1739, of pious parents of the Church of England. Her father, William Jones, was a seaman, and was lost on a voyage when Rebecca was a young child. Kary, Jones's mother, opened a school at No. 8 Drinker's Alley, which proved very successful, and she was able to give a careful education to Rebecca and her older brother Daniel. Rebecca never married.

Jones was convinced of Friends' principles at the age of fifteen, and was led to join the Society largely through the influence of Catharine Peyton, an English Friend who visited Philadelphia on a preaching tour in 1754. Upon her mother's death in 1761, Jones took over running the school, along with Hannah Cathrall, who remained a devoted assistant until her retirement in failing health. The school was given up when Rebecca Jones went to England on a preaching tour in 1784, and she eked out a modest income upon her return home by opening a little shop or agency, which her English friends kept supplied with lawns and cambrics and fine cap muslins. She was an intimate friend of John Woolman.

Rebecca Jones was a victim of the yellow fever of 1793, but was nursed back to life by the devoted Doctor Edward Cathrall and her friends, one of whom was Thomas Scattergood. There was an understanding between her and Samuel Emlen that whichever survived, should preach at the other's funeral, and Rebecca preached at the graveside of Samuel on the first day of the year 1800. She herself died 4mo. 10th, 1817.

From the Dictionary of Quaker Biography, Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Rebecca Jones Papers, 1981-1993 University of Minnesota Libraries Children's Literature Research Collections
creatorOf Correspondence of Henry Drinker, 1785-1840 Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections
creatorOf William Penn Charter School. Archives, 1666-1981. Haverford College Library
creatorOf Nicholas Waln Family papers, 1783-1895 (bulk 1783-1819) Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections
creatorOf James Thornton correspondence, 1669-1792, bulk 1771-1792 Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
creatorOf Allinson family papers, 1710-1939 Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections
referencedIn Nathaniel Vary Jones papers, 1847-1861 Utah State University. Merrill-Cazier Library. Special Collections and ArchivesUniversity Archives
creatorOf Haddon-Estaugh-Hopkins family papers, 1676-1841 (bulk 1676-1800). Haverford College Library
creatorOf Smiley family. Friends Historical Association records, 1778-[ca. 1915]. Haverford College Library
creatorOf Garrigues, Edward, 1756-1845. Collection of Lewis-Garrigues family papers, 1753-1840. Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
creatorOf Scattergood Family papers, 1681-1909. Haverford College Library
referencedIn Samuel Coates account and memoranda books, 1785-1830, 1785-1830 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Vaux collection of correspondence, documents and graphics, 1659-1978 Haverford College Library
creatorOf Hoskins family letterbook, 1729-1863 Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections
creatorOf Audubon, John James, 1785-1851. Robert B. Haines III collection, 1793-1834. Haverford College Library
creatorOf Henry Drinker papers, 1785-1808 Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Churchman, George, 1730-1814 person
associatedWith Coates, Samuel, 1748-1830 person
acquaintanceOf Emlen, Samuel, 1730-1799 person
associatedWith Garrigues, Edward, 1756-1845. person
acquaintanceOf Hunt, John, 1740-1824 person
associatedWith Jones, Nathaniel Vary, 1822-1863 person
associatedWith Pemberton, John, 1727-1795 person
acquaintanceOf Phillips, Catharine, 1727-1794 person
acquaintanceOf Ross, Thomas, approximately 1709-1786 person
acquaintanceOf Scattergood, Thomas, 1748-1814 person
correspondedWith Swett, Mary Howell, approximately 1739-1821 person
correspondedWith Thornton, James, 1727-1794. person
associatedWith Vaux, George. person
associatedWith Waln, Nicholas, 1742-1813. person
associatedWith William Penn Charter School. corporateBody
acquaintanceOf Woolman, John, 1720-1772 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Philadelphia PA US
Subject
Clergy
Society of Friends
Society of Friends
Lay ministry
Quakers
Quaker women
Voyages and travels
Occupation
Clergy
Quakers
Women clergy
Activity

Person

Birth 1739-09-19

Death 1817-04-15

Female

English

Information

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